I had stumbled into something extraordinary... My eyes swept around the room as I slumped helplessly on the bed. Now I was a married woman. I began to think about all the things I was required to do as a wife—cooking, cleaning up—or maybe that was the job of the servants. But wouldn't it seem prideful or condescending towards them?
I thought about how I'd greet my husband, iron his suit for work, and help him with his coat when he returned, like in the movies. What about the consummation of the marriage? All these thoughts swirled in my head as I tossed and turned on the bed. But when I remembered the contract and its contents, I felt more at ease and decided to sleep on it and continue worrying tomorrow.
One thing I knew for sure: this husband of mine was anything but ordinary, and this marriage wasn't going to be an easy one. It might look like it was served on a platter of gold, but I knew it was all a facade. All the people I'd met here so far were devilishly good-looking, but I wasn't going to waste time or sleep all day. Right there and then, I braced myself for what was to come. I sighed and headed for the land made for rest.
I woke up a few minutes later to find that same figure in that same spot. He was looking out the window, and his side profile was like a rock—lone, majestic, but steady and strongly rooted to the ground. In that moment, I unconsciously wanted to reach out to him, and coincidentally, he turned around to meet my hand hanging in the air.
I awkwardly withdrew my hand as I noticed something flash for a split second, shimmering behind those cold eyes. We stared at each other for long seconds before he snapped out of it and sat down on the bed, yet still somehow managed to tower over me. He leaned closer, and I could feel my face getting hotter as I tried to keep my emotions in check. Then he moved back and held up a tiny piece of thread.
I felt so awkward I chided myself for acting jumpy around him. The devilish man just sighed, his expression turning serious as he began, "Listen, I know I made it clear in the contract, but it just occurred to me that you might not take it seriously. I don't want any form of emotional or physical attachment. For your own good, we're just two people transacting business that'll benefit both of us—and we'll part ways after the agreed duration. If you become clingy, even slightly, I'll reduce you to nothing and make you regret being born into this goddamn world."
There was a dangerous glint in his eyes that told me all I needed to know. He wasn't joking around or trying to scare me—he could do every single thing he said.
"I understand. I promise never to form any emotional attachment. And FYI, I'm not a clingy woman—not even to the one I loved, let alone a contractual husband. Let's just keep to ourselves till the expiration of the contract. Thanks for the reminder. But trust me, you don't need to worry one bit."
I came up with a comeback immediately—I didn't want him to see how his words bruised my ego. It's not like I had any intention of falling in love, especially under these conditions, but damn, his words stung. I could tell mine got under his skin too, because he furrowed his brows deeply and muttered an inaudible "Better," before walking out of the room.
Such an arrogant man...
So right there and then, I made a mental note to avoid those hypnotizing eyes—eyes that could cause misunderstandings—before I sank deeper into the bed and drifted back into thought land. I wondered what Leah and Max were up to. They were probably celebrating my demise and their new life as a couple.
I clenched the sheets at the thought and shook off any hesitation. This marriage was for the best. I decided to focus on building myself into a strong woman—one whose presence could swirl the wind.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice a dainty little lady at the door with a tray in her hands. From her outfit, I immediately guessed she was a maid. Her expression looked a little... off. Unfathomable. As she walked toward me, she said, "Here's your breakfast, Madam."
It might've just been me, but I swear she said "Madam" through gritted teeth.
I tried to read her face, but as if on cue, she turned and scurried out of the room—stomping her foot in the process. What's her deal? I shrugged and peeled the cover off the tray. A delicious smell hit me, and my stomach growled like a beast. Right—I hadn't eaten anything in almost two days.
The waffles, coffee, and scrambled eggs were exactly what I needed. I immediately wolfed the food down, and just as I reached for the water bottle, I saw a pair of black Timberland boots in front of me. My eyes traced upwards.
It was that Xavier guy from earlier. He was no longer in formal clothing, and his lips wobbled slightly like he was about to burst into laughter. I was so embarrassed I wished the ground would swallow me whole. My face heated up, but thankfully, his expression turned neutral.
"Madam, I would like to give you a quick tour around the house and how things work here." He crossed his arms behind his back and walked majestically toward the door.
I rolled off the bed and followed behind him. He led me through a dimly lit passage and we arrived at a room I could clearly tell was a study, but he still muttered, "Here's the study."
The place didn't match the rest of the mansion—it was poorly furnished but tidy, cozy and homey. The books looked like they were a hundred years old, at least. He showed me a back door that led to the balcony, and then we went down another set of stairs to the backyard.
In the backyard was a duplex he called the boys' quarters—where the maids resided. I was in awe as I stared at the glistening blue pool and the twin beach benches. He gestured for me to follow, and it took everything in me not to jump into that inviting water. It was magical.
I quickly tore my gaze away from the beauty just as we stopped in front of another gate.
"This is the guest residence," he muttered like he was talking about the weather. "They live here," he continued with the same neutral expression. I just nodded, still caught up in how gorgeous the place was.
"Madam, would you like to take a look, or retire to your room? You must be tired," he asked.
I didn't want to seem like a bratty young miss, but when I caught another glimpse of that maid's distasteful look, I decided to provoke her a little. She was showing way too much rivalry for someone who was just a maid. I was pulled back to the present when I heard her hiss loudly and storm off.
I scoffed as I walked back into the mansion and into the living room—and there she was, sitting on the couch like she owned the place. She glanced at me when she noticed my presence, and if looks could kill... I'd be toast.
After a while, she turned her attention back to the TV, and I started wondering why she carried herself like the boss. Even the butler and other maids bowed their heads submissively around her. I made a mental note to avoid that particular maid—she smelled like a whole lot of bad news.
With that in mind, I went upstairs to my room without glancing back. I sank into the bed again—I couldn't seem to get enough of its softness and comfort. After a few minutes, I stood up to check out the bathroom.
And whew.
I was awed by the large mirrors, the mountain of fancy toiletries, and the size of the space. I walked into a transparent rectangular box just to see what the shower was like. There wasn't much inside—just a few LED lights on the ceiling, a shower pipe, and a mini cubicle beside it.
I stepped out and that was when I noticed a large tub behind me.
"Wow," I breathed. The bathroom was luxury redefined.
And then—I spotted something strange on one of the mirrors. A tiny white circle, like a handle. I pressed on it, hard, and discovered another hidden two-in-one compartment with a water closet in each and a side cubicle.
"Who the hell built this house?!" I blurted out, nearly stumbling from the sheer shine of the white, pristine interior. It was almost painful to the eyes.
I wandered around the bathroom for a bit before heading back into the bedroom. As I sat on the bed, I berated myself for being this lazy. Most of my time here had been spent doing absolutely nothing—and that wasn't me. I didn't like it one bit.
So I went downstairs to help the domestic workers—or at the very least, keep myself occupied with something.